Mum went to the Market
Buying for my sister
Dainty shoes so sweet
Soraya wore them proudly
Dancing in the street
Twirling, singing loudly
Sandals on her tiny feet
Squeals of playful fun
The puffs of dust
The brilliant sun
But high above a drone
Unseen, swift and silent
Targets our humble home
A flash of incandescent fire
The dancers stop and stare
The street becomes a pyre
Before my sobbing eyes
Tiny shoes lie in the dust
Nearby a broken body lies
ANTHONY O WILKINSON
Clifton Road
Ruddington
Always take care of your Grandad
Because one day he won't be there
Listen very carefully to your Grandad
Of all his memories he will share
Most Grandads can be relied upon
Some of them are very wise
They all listen to all your problems
Wipe away your tears whenever you cry
You can feel very safe with your Grandad
Sit beside for a short while
At the funny stories he will tell you
All the tales he tells will make you smile
Sometimes children don't know their Grandad
For some have passed away
But although Grandad may be out of reach
His thoughts of you will always stay
Place all the happy times within your hearts
Say thank you to Grandad and Grandma, too
For everything they gave, was given in love
And now all their thoughts and love go to you
MALCOLM BRADSHAW
Portland Road
Carlton
Mobbed again! These blasted crows,
They're jealous, one and all;
We all enjoy such freedom
But this just ain't playing ball.
A heron's life is irksome
When it yearns to venture out
Not every day, I have to say
Yet mostly, there's no doubt.
I only have an hour of rest
When perching there knee deep
Amongst the reeds down riverside
Where friends our vigil keep.
Yet after my fish supper
When I venture to fly home,
A glance towards my wing tips
Shall reveal I'm not alone!
One crow, two crows, three crows more
All swoop and dive and weave;
They pester every feathered mile,
For herons, no reprieve.
Oh such suffering there wingborne
For a craft so full of grace,
How can I keep appearance
In these irksomes which I face?
So I'm looking for a kestrel
Or another bird of prey
To form a loving friendship
And to keep these crows away.
So, you want to share a lovenest?
Search no further, I am here;
An unlikely pair we may be
Yet our future's quite crow-clear.
IAN C GRAY
Wollaton Road
Wollaton Park
Love was beautiful, at 21 years of age,
Two bodies joined as one.
Love was so special that very first time,
A new experience, blowing your mind.
Neither of you knowing what to expect,
Both of you anxious, and yet,
You remember every single word that he said,
Long, long after you got out of bed,
Not for just a day, a week, a year,
Something special you hold very dear,
Both of you knowing you're committed to each other,
Never thinking of taking another.
Throughout your life this is what binds you together,
You weather the storms, the good, the bad, whatsoever.
Life throws some really awful things at you,
Some so bad you just don't know what to do.
But almost 45 years down the line,
Love is still special after all this time
They said it would not last it wasn't meant to be.
But on March 23, 2013, it will be our 45th wedding anniversary
PAT DRING
Birkin Avenue
Ruddington
When in the Ring,
Horses do their best
to traverse the fences,
After much to-ing and fro-ing
they know where they're going,
To bring success
to the show horses, best,
They are much loved,
However, never shoved
out to the ring,
Where horses' prowess does bring
all the pride in the world,
To those whose talent unfolds,
And where they pass the test
in front of audiences untold,
With a surcingle (wide strap) around
the horse's girth,
Especially those who watch the telly,
Giving support and much welly
in the direction of horse and rider,
Who is the provider
of such wonderful horsey athletes
and much ability,
Not shrinking violets
sent, not to deny us;
And at the jump-off
to achieve the top resultant,
However they show
for a toff,
The way to go
to enchant us,
And our hats to doff!'
CRAIG MORRISON
Garfield Close
Stapleford